Garment-clasp.



'No. 648,789. Patented ma a, man.

E. J. PRIHDLE.

GABFAENT CLASP.

(Application filed Oct. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STAT Es": "i ATEN 50mins.

EDWIN J. IRINDLE, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

GARMENT-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPate'ntNo. 648,289,. dated may 1; 1960. application filed October 11, 1899. erihl No. 733,285. on model) Figure l is a perspective view oft-he pro-- fer'red form of my garment-clasp. Fig: 2.is a rear view. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the clasp shown in Fig. 1,

.. a portion of fabric being shownengaged in ed part of which a portion of the garment is the clasp; and Fig. 4 is an edge view of a second form of my garment-clasp;

My invention relates to garment-clasps having a tapering slot or'opening in the'contractheld and which, while particularly adapted for stocking-s11 p'portcrs, are also applicable to other uses; and it consists in the combination,

with such a clasp, of means which normally standin the path of a-portion of the garment when passed into the contracted portion of the slot of the clasp, and which thus prevent the escape of the garment therefrom.

As ordinarily constructed clasps of the class to which I refer consist of a body formed of av plate A, which has the usual opening B at its upper end for the reception of the garment supporter straps and which has below this openinga slot (3, having considerable width at the upper end Cf and tapering to a long con tracted portion D at its lower end. In the use of such clasps, particularly with long stocking snpporter straps, as the straps slacken and tighten during the motion of the limbs or. in

taking off and putting on the stockings or socks the portion of fabric easily escapes from the contracted portion of the slot, causing much annoyance and inconvenience. 'lohold the fabric in its proper position in the slot of the clasp until it is forcibly removed, I pro= vide a device which bears upon theportion of the garment which is passed into the contracted portion of the slot. In its preferred form said device is a spring-tongue E on the lower end of the base-plate, which is bent over the contracted portion D of the slot, and

near the mouth F of such contracted portion.

has a bend G, which touches or nearly touches the body of the clasp, beyond which point its tracted portion of the slot.

end H is bent slightly upward. This tongue may be a rigid tongue-that is, hinged to the base-plate and pressed by a separate spring against the base-plateor it may be formed.

on 01, attached to any other part of the clasp.

Solong as it normally stands in the path of a portion offabric whenpassed into the c0n-- tracted portion of the opening I regard it as coming within the scope of my invention, f

whatever be its particular constructionor arrangement. The tongue E may bear upon the fabric at the mouth F of the contracted portion D of the slot C, in which case it would hold the fabric I to the greatest advantage, or it may bear on the fabric I some; distance back of the mouth F of the contracted portion of the sl.ot-,in which case it would be easiest to insert the fabric I under the tongue E, for

the fabric would first be caught by the edges .of the contracted entrance F and then} guide itself under-the-tongue E without further attention. E, (shown in Fig. 4,) bear along the entire con- The clasp-body is preferably formed of sheet metal, although it may readily be formed of wireor may be stamped.

In the operationof my device the, fabric I The tongue may also, as inthe form of the stocking is forced up through thelarger portion 0 of the slotand is grasped. bythe thumb and finger.

be prevented,substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

2. A garment cl'asp com prlsinga body hav- The clasp is then drawn up to carry the fold of stocking fabric into the dental escape of the fabricfrofm the claspmay ing an opening which has a contracted porv tion and having a yielding tongue with a portion that is movable into and out of the path of a portion of fabric in its passage into said 2' B p s e contracted portiono f the opening, the hint of Connection Dream fongne with the c vaspbod y being ed'j aeent the inner end of the conito tracted portion of the opening,'.substantially as and for the purpoee describedt;

3. A garment-clasp comprisinga plate having an opening witha. contracted portiqn and a spring-tonguethat is bent down elose to or against the face of "the plate near the entrance:

of said contracted portion, an that has its 'a mid bent away from said plate, said spring tongue standingnormally inthe path of st por- 'tionraf fabrie when passed into said contractand forjthe purpose ,1 eseri.bed.

spring-tongue forined by bending over a. portion of the plate having the opening, said .tongue having a band: that stands normally 20 near the entrance of said contracted portion and in the path of a portionof fabric when passed, into saideontraeted portion of the opening, the end of said spring-tongue being bent away from the plate, substantially as and 2 5 for thepnrpose described,

.In testimony that'I .claim the foregoing I have. hereunto set my hand, thisllth day of uOcto'ber, 18.9 9i" DWIN J. PRIhTDLE.

lrvitlnes'ses'z I JAs. E. HUTCHINSON,

CHAS. J, WI I MSON. 

